The silence as she did so and the wolves perused the thirteen-page document was horrible.
“Some of this was before the turnover,” Sascha noted.
“Excuse me?”
“Three pages of these reports are dated prior to the turnover of Sandstone while your stewards worked for us.” Dark encroached on his glinting honey eyes.
I allowed some of Booker to shine back at him. Greyson could bite me. Well, he had. But he could do it again. “The care of land clause is always in effect. It’s the duty of pack and tribe to ensure this clause is enforced at all times. Do you dispute that?”
“No,” he answered. “It’s nothing I didn’t expect from you.”
I tried to absorb the jab without showing any hurt.
“Then let’s move on,” I continued. “Per the terms of Victratum, a lapse in care of the land results in five penalty points to the opposing team.”
Leroy and Hairy were off to one side, conferring with wolves I assumed had the most sandstone knowledge in the pack.
Hairy whispered in Sascha’s ear.
“The issues you’ve raised are minor at best,” he said. “The care of land clause requires proof that environmental harm has occurred.”
We’d only sent through the minor issues. I’d decided to lure him in and test the ground before revealing my real ace. “I’m disappointed at your apparent disregard and disrespect for this land, Mr Greyson.”
I’d once witnessed Herc talking to Sascha like this.
Never did I think I’d be able to negotiate this way.
He opened his mouth, but I interrupted. “Policies and procedures are formed for each grid with the agreement of both pack and tribe. When creating these best practices, both sides acknowledge the research studies referenced are the most current and accurate available. The data used to generate our latest sandstone procedures proves the long-term effect of all the reported care of land lapses on that list. The pack did not act in accordance with those policies and therefore, as agreed between both sides, the pack has negatively impacted this land.”
There was no way to refute that, other than that pack actions were short term.
Sascha didn’t reply, listening to Hairy again.
“I’d like to introduce two of our sandstone experts, Isabelle and Dominic,” I said. “They will briefly outline the environmental impact of each item on the list you possess.”
“You don’t have enough here, Head Steward,” Sascha said lazily. “You’re grasping at thin air.”
I narrowed my gaze but didn’t respond.
The two stewards stood and bowed in my direction.
“Head Steward,” Isabelle murmured before facing the Luthers. She was nervous, but I had to applaud her composure. “I’d like to direct everyone’s attention to transgression one.”
Transgression, huh. I may have to borrow that word.
There were over one hundred minor lapses.
I settled back and allowed those who knew far more than me about sandstone take the reins. Sascha’s expert battled back at intervals, but it became clear our stewards were far more knowledgeable on the subject.
I took the opportunity to survey the pack members and Sascha for any sign of their reaction.
Dominic finished outlining the last lapse. He bowed my way again and sat.
“Thank you both for explaining the seriousness of these impacts on our beloved valley.” I looked at Sascha. “The penalty for a lapse in this clause is clear. Five penalty points. However, in acknowledgement of the pack’s lack of experience in this grid, we’re willing to extend goodwill and accept a penalty of three points instead.”
“There’s no proof of environmental impact.” Sascha returned. “And so there’s no case here. However, as we have the utmost respect for this valley, in goodwill, we’re willing to accept a penalty of one point.”
Yes!
I didn’t celebrate aloud or otherwise move. “You profess to care for our surroundings, and yet offer so little.”
Our teams volleyed arguments back and forward for a time.
I tapped a finger on the table. “Tell me, Mr Greyson. If you’d spent several months in possession of Sandstone and the environment suffered for it, what penalty would you be prepared to pay then?”
“We’ll never know, Miss Thana.”
Dammit. He didn’t fall into my word trap.
“The contract is clear on this matter. Any lapse in best practices results in the loss of five points. But for the listed issues, the Ni Tiaki, very generously, accepts one penalty point from the pack.”
Sascha released a breath. A tiny breath that everyone else missed.
He spoke, “I’m glad we could reach a—”
“I’d like to present one more lapse in the care of land clause,” I said pleasantly. “Pascal?”
Our marshal sent through our ace.
The pack members read over it. Their so-called expert blanched and cast Leroy a wide-eyed look.
Yep.
I had him. “As you’ll see, in comparison to the last issues, this is far bigger. A waterway was compromised. Not only do we have dated photographs, we have videos of all the testing carried out at the waterway. There’s proven environmental impact. I’m sure you’re as shocked and devastated by this news as we are. Would you like to hear from our experts on this issue?”
Sascha listened briefly to his sandstone Luther. They had to be muting their microphone because I couldn’t hear the conversation.
When their conversation wrapped up, Sascha faced me, never grimmer.
“We are indeed shocked and devastated too. As you previously mentioned, our lack of experience is our excuse.”
Clever wolf. But he couldn’t get out of this unscathed.
He forced the words out. “What penalty does the tribe propose?”
I read the betrayal in his expression.
Sascha may hate me now, but if this worked—if—then we were one step closer to our ending. Assuming he still found me worthy after everything I’d done. Fear churned in my stomach at the thought of his rejection.
“This is a clear violation of the care of land clause,” I stated in a clear voice. “The rules are clear. We have the right to five penalty points.”
I let that sink in.
“But,” I stressed, “the tribe is grateful for the opportunity you gave us with employment in Sandstone. We acknowledge that possessing a grid you haven’t possessed in a long time is bound to carry a learning curve. We’re willing to be generous once again.”
“Indeed,” Sascha growled.
“In addition to the already agreed-upon penalty of one point, we will accept a further one-point penalty for this specific issue to bring the total to two points.”
I knew what he was feeling.
It’s what I experienced when Rhona lost Sandstone.
The ground was crumbling under his feet as he contemplated his people without a home—or dying around him. As he considered what might become of us in time with this lingering like poison.
And like Sascha back on pack lands, I wanted to do everything possible to make him feel better.
I wanted us to be happy for more than a few minutes strung together. So I didn’t waver.
A leaden beat passed.
“The pack accepts the total penalty of two points,” he said quietly.
His words were a kiss on the mouth and a punch in the stomach.
Jubilation filled the room, emanating from my stewards, but I’d never felt closer to tears.
Sascha’s jaw clenched. “The Ni Tiaki hold five penalty points. One of our grids is yours. Which will it be?”
No sane Head Steward would choose Clay with our horrendous track record in Water.
“The Ni Tiaki claim Clay.” My voice rang through the space.
Lisa blinked three times.
Yeah, I’d decided on the insane path.
For several reasons, one of them being that last Sunday, we announced Clay as the next grid.
The pack would only have three days to prepare for Water. No time to order equipment. Very little time to brainstorm and train. Whereas we’d already had ten days practicing for the grid.
The gloves were off.
Sascha inclined his head. “We’ll prepare for the turnover of the grid on Thursday morning as per usual procedure. Congratulations on four grids, Head Steward.”
I didn’t want his congratulations.
I wanted him.
Sascha ended the call.
31
I stood at the manor entrance with my head team as Basilia Le Spyre made her second entrance.
She was in a white car this time and driving.
“Who’s the guy?” Wade asked.
Crown Prince Kyros was crammed into the passenger seat and looking faintly harassed. As Basilia ripped down the wheel and fish-tailed into a parking spot, it wasn’t hard to guess why.
“Her mate, Prince Kyros.” I walked down the steps as a few SUVs drove onto manor lands too.
Our guests had started to arrive. Many more would follow, but they’d stagger their entry into Deception Valley over thirty minutes so werewolves in town didn’t notice the stream of traffic.
The SUVs were filled with employees of Basilia’s who’d once served Clan Sundulus to pay off debt, or so I understood the matter.
I’d come prepared with orange-scented oil this time. Having already dabbed it under my nose, I offered to the vampire princess as she exited the car.
“I’m sorted.” She held up a small bottle.
“How was the journey?”
“It’s much more entertaining to drive. So many tight bends. It flew by. Right, Ky?”
Prince Kyros shut the passenger door. “Yes, my beauty.”
My lips twitched at his stricken expression. “I’m glad.”
I faced the neatly parked black vehicles, certain my guests would hear every word. “Welcome to Ni Tiaki lands. Thank you for agreeing to help us win this game and for coming so far. There’s a possibility that a Luther guest will arrive in an hour. Please stay in your vehicles and follow my head team to parking spaces around the back. You will be shown to refreshments and your accommodation. I ask that you stay hidden until negotiations conclude as Luthers have very good ears and very good noses.”
Trixie and Nathan would make sure those yet to arrive received the same instructions.
“A possibility he’ll come?” Menace filled Kyros’s voice. “We came here to negotiate seriously.”
I got the feeling this vampire kept his power tucked away. Even now, though, my body wanted to react to his menacing threat. My head team reeked of adrenaline.
“There was a misunderstanding with Mr Greyson,” I answered. “The negotiations can still move forward.”
“You reek.” His green eyes blazed.
I smiled. “Ditto. Want some oil?”
“He refused to weaken his sense of smell.” Basilia sighed.
The head team watched on in silence as I led the vampires into the manor. They knew the true nature of our guests, but it was obvious their reaction was greater than mine.
When Basilia and Tommy visited alone, Wade’s reaction wasn’t this strong.
Actually, he smelled far less stressed than the others. He must cope better for some reason.
After refreshments, we gathered in the conference room.
“Is this house for sale?” Basilia glanced around.
She considered this a house? How big was her damn mansion? “The tribe don’t acknowledge ownership of land. This valley is in trust. I couldn’t sell it if I tried. If I did try, the tribe would place me in a freezing river and whip me with reeds.”
The billionaire hummed. “That’s a no?”
I exchanged an amused look with Wade. “It’s a no.”
“Thought I’d check. Shall we begin then? It doesn’t seem Mr Greyson is coming.”
The door burst open, and my heart leaped into my throat as Sascha strode into the room.
He froze. His fangs exploded as he whirled to face Kyros and Basilia. A terrible growl ripped from his throat
Yeah, I hadn’t told him Vissimo would actually be here. Consider it a little test before Water.
“Sascha, these are representatives of King Julius. May I introduce Crown Prince Kyros Atagio and his mate, Princess Basilia Le Spyre.”
Sascha stalked to stand in front of me, extending his claws.
Kyros was having a battle of his own. His green eyes flared. His fangs were visible—sharp but far smaller than ours.
“They stink,” Sascha snarled.
“Yes,” I said reasonably. “Horrible, isn’t it? We smell quite bad to them as well.”
The hairs at the back of my neck rose at the combined threat of Sascha and Kyros’s ripping growls.
This wasn’t a great start.
“Would you like some orange-scented essential oil to help?”
“No,” Sascha snapped, now edging us both back to the wall.
I caught Basilia’s eye under his arm. She grinned from behind Kyros.
The vampire stepped around her mate. “If you’d both prefer to suffer, then at least control yourselves so we can begin.”
Following her lead, I escaped Sascha’s body cage. “Maybe you’d both like to step out for a few minutes to compose yourselves?”
Pascal, Stanley, and Wade were slammed against the farthest wall. I listened to their thundering pulses, taking the seat opposite Basilia.
Wade was the first to join us at the table. Pascal was next—Stanley close on her tail.
Copies of the second draft contract sat in a neat pile. I took one off the top. “Has King Julius had time to go over our revision of the contract?”
She nodded. “He has and gave his permission to Kyros and me to work on a final contract.”
Sascha walked to stand behind me.
“Move,” he said to Wade.
Wade quickly made space between us, and Sascha slotted in his chair.
Thank you for coming, I thought at him.
He glared. It wasn’t for you.
Ouch. Regardless, thank you.
It had to kill him to be so protective right now when he wanted to rage at me instead.
Sascha cut off our line of communication. He rested a, now crumpled, copy of the revised contract on the table. I’d sent it to him in the hopes he’d still come today.
“My pack has reviewed the second draft contract. Though better, it still leaves many areas open to a concerning degree.” Sascha turned the page. “Clause 2b, for instance. It’s heavily weighted in the clan’s favour.”
I turned the first page, hope twinging low in my stomach.
He was here and actively participating.
It could mean everything.
Or nothing at all.
“Well and good, werewolf, but we offer the tribe and pack far more than they offer us in return,” Kyros fired back.
“There is a possibility we may require your services. In fifty years. Or one thousand. Conversely, there’s a certainty that Ni Tiaki and pack will put themselves in regular danger for your clan. For fifty years. For a thousand. Always. Our contribution will be tangible and trackable. We will offer the only advances in knowledge on the other supernatural races.” Sascha leaned back, resting an arm over the back of my chair. “All your clan needs to do is sit there and look pretty. Shouldn’t be a problem for you.”
He did pretty well until the parting jab.
A growl filled Kyros’s chest, shaking the table.
Basilia faced him, and I watched their expressions alter.
Oh my god. They could mind-speak too?
I inhaled Sascha’s surprise.
“There’s merit in what you say,” Basilia said. “How about instead of wasting hours deciding who has the most to offer, we just agree that we bring equal value to an alliance?”
Sascha glanced at me.
It’s the best we’ll get.
He didn’t answe
r my silent comment. He addressed the vampires again. “To 4a next. The suggested parameters of pack and Ni Tiaki responsibilities are too strenuous. Our involvement must take into account that tribe and pack alike will still have day jobs and require personal time with family and for themselves.”
“That’s for pack and tribe to negotiate,” Kyros said. “I came here under the impression you’d be more prepared for this discussion.”
“We take this alliance seriously, Prince Kyros,” I replied. “There’s a long-held grudge between us. Our people need time to come around to the idea of burying the hatchet. In addition, Sascha’s Luthers have long memories, and they lost thousands to your clan. They’re exceptionally loyal to those they lost, and this makes it hard for them to consider an agreement with Vissimo, let alone one with the tribe.”
Instead of retorting, the prince nodded.
He liked to use some of his father’s tricks and was far more subtle about rolling them out.
“Would an official apology from our clan help with the matter?” Basilia tilted her head.
Kyros shot her a look.
“Perhaps not,” she murmured to his silent remark. “But your father is reasonable.”
Sascha was unsettled.
Did he come here today ready to view vampires in the same way stewards viewed Luthers?
“That would go a long way with the older members of our community, yes,” he said gruffly. “They value humility.”
“The tribe is happy to negotiate the parameters of clause 4 with the pack and present you with our proposal.” I met Sascha’s hard gaze.
Sascha pressed his lips together. “The pack will attend.”
He hadn’t forgiven me by a long shot, but he’d do the right thing.
I’d take it.
I didn’t dare relax in my chair as Sascha flipped two pages ahead. There were fifty in the document.
Negotiations between werewolves, vampires, and humans had begun.
This could blow up in my face.
But in all honesty, I was used to the feeling.
I listened to the sounds of the gathered stewards. Their happy babble was a thing of the past.
“There’s no way out of this.”
“We don’t have enough numbers.”
“This whole time the werewolves were protecting us from demons.”
Wolf Roulette: Supernatural Battle Page 28